Kitsap Pumas clinch playoff berth with 6-2 win (team recap)

Vancouver, British Columbia – It was a hectic trip up North for the Kitsap Pumas.

Following a lengthy border stop, dressing on the bus, then a quick jog across the campus surrounding Vancouver’s stadium all added up to a 6-2 win for the side.

And they got all of five minutes to warm up.

Despite numerous complications and setbacks en route to British Columbia, Tye Perdido and Eli Gordley combined for four goals in the Pumas’ 6-2 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency team.

The win puts the Pumas (11-2-2) into the playoffs for the second year in a row.

Down 2-1 in the second half, Gordley notched his first goal in the 52nd- minute after Perdido made a great run down the left wing to draw the defense in then launched a perfect cross onto the right on the foot of Gordley for the easy score.

Two minutes later, Perdido put the Pumas up for good when he timed his run perfectly to get behind the back line and chip the ball in for the Pumas.

“I almost hesitated because I thought I was off(side),” Perdido said. “But I tried stepping up before the ball got played. I guess I timed it right.”

Jamel Wallace opened the scoring for the Pumas in the 13th minute. He came out of the defense to intercept a ball in the midfield, then initiated a tight give-and-go with Perdido, whose pass set up Wallace for his first goal of the season.

Wallace’s tally means that every Puma defender has scored this season save or outside right back Stephen Mohn. He’ll have a chance at that this coming Saturday as the Pumas close out the regular season with a road match at Tacoma, Mohn’s former team two years ago.

Vancouver put the pressure on and equalized in the 28th-minute when Gagandeep Dosanjh found Doudou Toure, who sent a rocket in from 25 yards out.

The Whitecaps then took it’s lead early in the second half when a foul was called on Wallace in the box, resulting in a specious penalty call from the official. Russell Teibert converted the penalty by blasting it off goalkeeper Dustyn Brim’s fingertips. It was the first penalty the Pumas have allowed all season.

After that, it was all Kitsap, as Cameron Hepple scored off a cross from John Fishbaugher, then Gordley scored the goal of the season hitting a bicycle kick from 45 yards out after the Vancouver goalkeeper had come off his line too early. Gordley’s incredible night nearly included the first hat trick in team history, but his penalty kick was saved.

Steven Phillips rounded out the scoring when he took hold of a deflection from Vancouver goalkeeper off a corner kick deftly slicing in the rebound.

The game also saw the debut of Kitsap’s newest player, Warlen Silva, a striker from Brazil whom the Pumas obtained on loan from Yakima early yesterday. The lanky striker made his debut with only two minutes in regulation yet produced two excellent shots on goal.

“This match was so long overdue for us,” said Pumas head coach Peter Fewing. “We’ve been fighting and clawing and scrapping all season long – and remember – every team we face plays as if is their own league final.

“This is such a deep and hard-working unit,” Fewing continued, “and our balance incredible – just look at how many of them have scored this season. I’m really proud of the effort and fight we showed tonight.”

The club has placed its bid to host the Western Conference finals in Bremerton at Memorial Stadium July 29- Aug. 1. The format will pit the Northwest Divsion champs, Portland against the No. 2 team from the USL PDL’s Southwest Division.

Kitsap will play the winner of that division. As of today, three times remain in the running for the two coveted playoff spots. Ventura, Hollywood and Orange County are today separated by only one point in their standings and all play this coming Saturday night – meaning that the winner of the right to host the conference championships may not be announced until as late as Sunday.